Marianne Faithfull is a British singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her distinctive and raspy vocals that have earned her a reputation as one of the most unique female singers of all time. In this article, we will explore key aspects of Marianne Faithfull's vocal style and provide practical advice on how to learn to sing like her.

Vocal Style and Techniques

Marianne Faithfull's voice is characterized by its raw, emotional, and rough-edged quality. Her vocal texture is distinct and is believed to be a result of her disheveled lifestyle. To learn to sing like Marianne Faithfull, there are a few techniques you should focus on.

• Breathing Control: Faithfull's voice has a breathy quality that draws attention to her phrases. To achieve this effect, you should focus on controlling your breath and utilizing your diaphragm to control your airflow.
• Vocal Dynamics: Faithfull's vocals are full of dynamic range, incorporating elements like vocal leaps, dips and occasional quivers. Incorporating this aspect to your singing requires intense focus and control especially in high-register areas.
• Soft Enunciation: Faithfull's often employs a husky, phlegmy speech which is a unique trademark of her singing voice. To achieve this effect, focus on limiting the amount of forced air you add to your breath flow in articulating words and/or notes.

Key Songs to Learn

In order to learn how to sing like Marianne Faithfull, it’s important to study her style by learning from some of her most popular and successful songs. Below are some of her essential tracks to learn from:

1. As Tears Go By: This song was originally written by the Rolling Stones, but it was Marianne Faithfull that truly made it her own. The song requires strong breath control, and her phrasing is a great example to imitate while incorporating dynamics to your singing.
2. Broken English: The title track off her 1979 album is one of Faithfull’s most iconic songs. The song showcases her range, and her unique emotional interpretation of lyrics.
3. Sister Morphine: This is a bluesy track that is perfect for practicing vocal control and intonation. The song is a great example because of how Marianne uses her voice as an emotive storytelling instrument.

Practical Steps for Learning to Sing Like Marianne Faithfull

1. Breathing Control: Incorporate regular breathing exercises into your vocal training routine. An excellent way to begin is using the Farinelli Breathing video, recommended by Singing Carrots.
2. Articulate Improvements: Incorporate regular vocal warm-ups by utilizing Humming exercises, to gain better control of your vocal cords to produce authentic vocal texture. Also, use Finger Bite, a Singing Carrots' video to achieve better articulation of words.
3. Practice Phrasing and Dynamics: Begin to focus on practicing the phrasing and dynamics within songs such as "Broken English". This will help you to build more emotional connections with the lyrics as they are delivered with greater dynamic range to match Marianne's vocal style.
4. Record Yourself Singing: Listening to yourself is an essential part of learning to sing like Marianne Faithfull. Record yourself practicing exercises regularly, and listen closely to identify areas where your technique could use some improvement.
5. Sing Regularly: Practice singing with consistency and repetition. Utilize Singing Carrot's vocal range test to find songs within your range and try to sing along regularly to develop your range, control, and timing.

Conclusion

Marianne Faithfull is a unique vocalist, renown for her raw and passionate delivery. Follow the practical tips we have laid out above, which includes studying her style and engaging in relevant Singing Carrots' resources to learn to sing like Marianne. With consistent practice and dedication, you can develop your own unique voice with the same emotional complexity and dynamics of Marianne Faithfull.